AROUND 1200 primary five children from across the region have been invited to the Border Union Agricultural Society’s Schools Countryside Day at the Borders Events Centre next Tuesday May 17.

The annual event, which is closed to the general public, provides a unique opportunity for the children to learn about farming, food production and rural life.

The children will have the chance to enjoy over 50 activities and demonstrations ranging from spinning, weaving, milking, beekeeping and auctioneering to sheep-shearing and stick-making.

Sustainability is a core theme of this year’s event and the pupils will discover the importance of soil and woodland management, song birds and protecting and enhancing the environment.

They will also learn about healthy eating, livestock management, seasonal foods and the significance of food miles.

And this will be the fifth year that the Fallago Environment Fund has provided backing for the event.

The body shares the benefits of the Fallago Rig Wind Farm in the Lammermuir Hills with projects across the Scottish Borders and is supported by Roxburghe Estates, Federated Hermes and EDF Renewables.

Speaking on behalf of the Fallago Environment Fund, His Grace, The Duke of Roxburghe, said; “The Border Union’s Schools Countryside Day is a hugely important event which provides an inspirational way for the region’s children to learn about the rural environment that surrounds them.

“We hope that they will return home with new-found appreciation of a host of topics, from farming and food production to the protection of the Borders’ rich natural assets, and that they will have been inspired by the wonderful variety of rewarding careers that the region has to offer. We’re delighted that the Fallago Environment Fund is able to use these windfarm-generated funds to support this exceptional event.”

In addition to grant funding from the Fallago Environment Fund, the Border Union Schools Countryside Day is also supported by Scottish Borders Council, Charity Begins at Home, BASF, Kelso Farmer’s Market, Grahams Family Dairy, Scottish Land & Estates, Sainsbury’s and Ford & Etal Estates.

Peter Douglas, Chair, Border Union Agricultural Society, said; “This will be the eighth time that we have hosted our Schools Countryside Day and the event is now one of the four core events in the Society’s annual programme.

“It’s a huge undertaking featuring around 170 teachers and 150 stewards in addition to the 250 people from organisations across the region, who deliver the hands-on activities and demonstrations that make this such a valuable and memorable experience for the children.

“We’re extremely grateful to the Fallago Environment Fund and all our supporters for helping us to create this important annual showcase of Borders rural life.”

Fallago Environment Fund grant applications are administered by Tweed Forum. They are assessed twice yearly, with application deadlines of 1 September and 1 March. Further information can be found at www.tweedforum.org/fallago or by calling the Tweed Forum on 01896 849723.